SECURITY. Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) Director Col. Alexander Mariano talks about the threat and risk assessment of the province before the provincial board during the regular session on Monday (March 20, 2023). Mariano said elected and appointed officials in the province should not be complacent about their security in spite of the province being a peaceful place. (PNA photo by Annabel Consuelo J. Petinglay)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) is urging elected and appointed officials not to be complacent and instead always stay on guard against possible threats.
APPO Provincial Director Col. Alexander Mariano, in an interview Monday, said political leaders should always be conscious of their safety in spite of Antique being a peaceful place with no private armies or criminal groups operating in the province.
Mariano, upon the invitation of the provincial board, appeared at the regular session to provide the threat and risk assessment of the province.
"Antiqueños are fortunate that they have a peaceful place to live, work and do business, but then they should not just be complacent," Mariano said.
The police director added that they could not provide security to every requesting elected and appointed official since they do not have enough police personnel.
With their consent, however, the police can conduct security surveillance inspections in their homes.
"Through conducting security survey in the homes of Antique’s political leaders, we could find out the strengths and weaknesses in the area and make recommendations," Mariano said.
He said there are only around 1,100 police personnel in Antique so they only provide police security in convergence areas, like upon the request of Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao when she attends a gathering in public places.
Mariano added that the approval of police security personnel depends on the chief of the Philippine National Police while the provincial director can only do so in extreme emergency cases but only for 15 days.
Mariano warned that politicians should not be easily deceived by people wearing uniforms of the Philippine National Police or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
He said that they have to check the vehicles they use through their red plate or proper markings to make sure these belong to government authorities.
"The police has inventoried the two shops in Antique that are selling the police uniforms and advised them to make sure that they are selling to proper authorities," Mariano said.
He also said that police uniforms are not supposed to be given as gifts to other people. (PNA)
